James Gordon Leaf (18 October 1900–8 December 1972) was a British Army officer and English cricketer ^[1] who played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team and played international matches for the Egypt national cricket team. ^[2]

Biography

Born in Shipston-on-Stour in 1900, ^[2] James Leaf attended Harrow School, playing a match for them against Winchester College in 1918. From Harrow he went to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and on graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 15th Hussars on 24 December 1920. ^[3] The regiment merged with the 20th Hussars in 1922, Leaf continued as a second lieutenant in the new regiment, the 14th/20th Hussars, ^[4] until his promotion to lieutenant on 24 December 1922 when he transferred to the 15th/19th Hussars. ^[5] He played two matches for Egypt against the Free Foresters in 1927. ^[6] He resigned his commission on 20 October 1928, ^[7] but rejoined the army (and the 15th/19th) on 10 December 1930, with reduced seniority (from 29 August 1926). ^[8] He was promoted captain on 20 November 1934. ^[9]

He played his one first-class match for the Army against Oxford University in May 1937. ^[10] He was promoted major on 12 February 1940, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. ^[11] Between 1942 and 1945, he played six matches for the Catterick Garrison cricket team against Durham. ^[6] He retired from the army on 18 October 1947. ^[12] He died in Osmaston in 1972. ^[2]

References